About this image: This edge-on spiral galaxy is NGC 4631, and because of its asymmetric shape it is also referred to as the Whale Galaxy. Multiple star clusters, star forming regions, and obscuring dust lanes make up its disk, which partly obstructs the light from its bright galactic core. A small companion galaxy, the dwarf elliptical NGC 4627, can be seen just above the Whale.

The images on this page were produced by the DAGAL network, and can be used free of charge provided acknowledgement is given to "DAGAL, Nik Szymanek, SDSS, and S4G, www.dagalnetwork.eu".